The Canadian Race Relations Foundation is Canada's leading agency
dedicated to the elimination of racism and all forms of racial discrimination in Canadian society.
CRRF Welcomes Kimberly Bennett
The CRRF welcomes Kimberly Bennett as its new Bilingual Communications Director.
Kimberly Bennett has been an advocacy & communications expert in the international development and humanitarian sector-- particularly in the Global South, for the last 14 years. She has shared her expertise with international organizations such as CARE International, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council and the United Nations World Food Programme in nine countries spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Kimberly is passionate about amplifying the voices of marginalized populations-- primarily women, children and minority groups, for the purpose of an improved society and meaningful policy change.
Kimberly Bennett has been an advocacy & communications expert in the international development and humanitarian sector-- particularly in the Global South, for the last 14 years. She has shared her expertise with international organizations such as CARE International, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council and the United Nations World Food Programme in nine countries spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Kimberly is passionate about amplifying the voices of marginalized populations-- primarily women, children and minority groups, for the purpose of an improved society and meaningful policy change.
Do you have a project focused on anti-Black, anti-Asian or anti-Indigenous racism? Are you part of a grassroots organization or local not-for-profit group that advocates for racialized communities? Or are you part of a coalition that is advocating for change? Bringing people together or running a campaign to raise awareness of racism? We want to hear from YOU.
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) is excited to announce the CRRF COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION FUND (CMF), a fund program providing grants from $5,000-$20,000 for anti-racism projects across the country.
Click read more for more information.
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) is excited to announce the CRRF COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION FUND (CMF), a fund program providing grants from $5,000-$20,000 for anti-racism projects across the country.
Click read more for more information.
CRRF 2020 Annual Public Meeting
The CRRF 2020 Annual Public Meeting took place on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. Due the circumstances of COVID-19, the meeting was hosted virtually through video software WebEx Meetings.
During this year's meeting, our new Executive Director Mohammed Hashim took the time to outline the achievements of this past year.
Click read more for the meeting summary.
During this year's meeting, our new Executive Director Mohammed Hashim took the time to outline the achievements of this past year.
Click read more for the meeting summary.
CRRF Welcomes Stephanie Xu
The CRRF welcomes Stephanie Xu as its new Manager of Programs and Information Management.
Stephanie Xu is a recent MSc graduate from the London School of Economics and Political Science. With a communications and conflict studies background, her previous work and research has focused on the visual representation of marginalized communities and their rightful agency.
She looks forward to joining the CRRF in carrying forth anti-racism efforts, especially towards issues of anti-Asian racism.
Stephanie Xu is a recent MSc graduate from the London School of Economics and Political Science. With a communications and conflict studies background, her previous work and research has focused on the visual representation of marginalized communities and their rightful agency.
She looks forward to joining the CRRF in carrying forth anti-racism efforts, especially towards issues of anti-Asian racism.
RFP: Organisational Risk Assessment and Risk Registry Matrix
CRRF is hereby inviting qualified consultant(s) to submit proposal to conduct an organisational risk assessment and develop a Risk Registry Matrix.
The CRRF Board of Directors recognise the importance of having strong and appropriate organisational, strategic and managerial structures in place to enable program expansion and goal achievement. Both, the strategic planning process and risk management are a central part of this. In September 2020 Executive Committee of the Board of Directors approved to send out Request for Proposal (RFP) to engage a consultant(s) to conduct a risk assessment & to develop CRRF’s Risk Registry Matrix. The process aims to provide a better understanding of the strength and sustainability of the existing structure.
The CRRF Board of Directors recognise the importance of having strong and appropriate organisational, strategic and managerial structures in place to enable program expansion and goal achievement. Both, the strategic planning process and risk management are a central part of this. In September 2020 Executive Committee of the Board of Directors approved to send out Request for Proposal (RFP) to engage a consultant(s) to conduct a risk assessment & to develop CRRF’s Risk Registry Matrix. The process aims to provide a better understanding of the strength and sustainability of the existing structure.
Cross Canada Conversation - A National Perspective
This event seeked to facilitate consultation, and the exchange of information between the nationally organized representatives of racialized communities.
The focus of the discussions were on challenges faced, best practices, and recommendations for new or improved policies at the national level. We were also interested in the way in which organizations engaged in research and advocacy on behalf of their communities.
The focus of the discussions were on challenges faced, best practices, and recommendations for new or improved policies at the national level. We were also interested in the way in which organizations engaged in research and advocacy on behalf of their communities.
24th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation Act
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation was created as a direct result of the Redress Agreement. The CRRF, created through legislation that was given Royal Assent on February 1, 1991 and proclaimed on October 28, 1996, expressed the desire of the Japanese Canadian community to create an organization that would fight racism and act as a bridge-builder between communities.
Today, 24 years later, the pain of racism and discrimination are felt by many across the nation. We see a rise in anti-black racism, anti-Asian sentiment, Islamophobia, antisemitism, religious discrimination, in an ever more polarized world. Equally, Indigenous communities are increasingly facing discrimination and much more is needed to achieve the promise of reconciliation.
Today, 24 years later, the pain of racism and discrimination are felt by many across the nation. We see a rise in anti-black racism, anti-Asian sentiment, Islamophobia, antisemitism, religious discrimination, in an ever more polarized world. Equally, Indigenous communities are increasingly facing discrimination and much more is needed to achieve the promise of reconciliation.
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation welcomes Mohammed Hashim as its new Executive Director
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation is pleased to welcome Mr. Mohammed Hashim as its new Executive Director. The appointment was announced by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Network of Anti-Racism Organizations
As part of our 2020 - 2023 Strategic Plan, CRRF is re-building capacity as a convener. To support this direction, a new Anti-Racism Organizations Contact Form is being launched. This form is designed to provide all Canadians with a searchable database of organizations focused on race relations and anti-racism efforts.
Join the growing list of organizations involved in anti-racism efforts across Canada in our new Anti-Racism Organization database. Following a review for completeness, your organization’s information will be available to any visitor to CRRF’s website. Thank you for working with CRRF in building this database.
Join the growing list of organizations involved in anti-racism efforts across Canada in our new Anti-Racism Organization database. Following a review for completeness, your organization’s information will be available to any visitor to CRRF’s website. Thank you for working with CRRF in building this database.
CRRF Anti-Racism Workshop
The Canadian Race Relations Foundations (CRRF) regularly receives requests for anti-racism training and workshops.
CRRF Anti-Racism Workshop seeks to build on the achievements of the Canada Beyond 150 initiative and an updated bibliographic search capacity. Our goal is to develop capacity for equity, offering a safe space for discussion and conversation about equity, race, and human rights, while simultaneously helping participants navigate differences, diversity, power relationships and conflict.
CRRF Anti-Racism Workshop seeks to build on the achievements of the Canada Beyond 150 initiative and an updated bibliographic search capacity. Our goal is to develop capacity for equity, offering a safe space for discussion and conversation about equity, race, and human rights, while simultaneously helping participants navigate differences, diversity, power relationships and conflict.
Racism in Canada Leads to Inequitable Health and Social Outcomes
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) strongly endorses the recent release of a new resource entitled “Social determinants and inequities in health for Black Canadians: A Snapshot”, the result of ongoing work of the Health Inequalities Reporting Initiative.
Looking at Hate Crime Statistics in Canada
Hate crimes against targeted communities remain a dark stain on the values that the overwhelming majority of Canadians support, and beyond our borders, we see evidence of the tragic damage that hatred can exact.
Click read more on this analysis by CRRF.
Click read more on this analysis by CRRF.
CRRF Webinar: Recognizing Slavery's Legacy of Racism in the Time of COVID-19
Fireside Chat featuring Chiamaka Mọgọ, Board Member, Canadian Race Relations Foundation & Public Policy Professional & Natasha Henry, President, Ontario Black History Society
To mark August 23 as a day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, Chiamaka and Natasha discuss this shameful legacy and focus on how COVID-19 has exacerbated the social, political, economic and health conditions that are linked to structural racism, thereby causing people of African descent to suffer disproportionately.
Click read more for the event recording.
To mark August 23 as a day of Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, Chiamaka and Natasha discuss this shameful legacy and focus on how COVID-19 has exacerbated the social, political, economic and health conditions that are linked to structural racism, thereby causing people of African descent to suffer disproportionately.
Click read more for the event recording.
Systemic Anti-Black Racism in Canada Must be Remedied: Urgent Changes Needed to Help Black Canadians Thrive
As expressed recently, Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) strongly endorses the report of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) into the racial profiling and discriminatory practices of the Toronto Police Service and calls for the adoption of the recommendations made in the report. This second interim report, “A Disparate Impact”, presented in August 2020, is a follow-up on the OHRC’s initial report, “A Collective Impact”, released in December 2018. Both reports support the recurrence of systemic anti-Black racism in Canada.
The CRRF strongly endorses ON Human Rights Commission 2nd Interim Report on Racial profiling and racial discrimination by Toronto Police Service
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) strongly endorses the report of the Ontario Human Rights Commission into the discriminatory practices of the Toronto Police Service and calls for the adoption of the recommendations made in the report.
Call For Papers - Systemic Racism in Canada
We are currently looking for contributors for Directions and hope you will share your expertise, experience and research with us!
Anti-Black Racism - Now is the Time to Act
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation condemns racially motivated actions against all people. We acknowledge the many Canadian protests and voices in support of US anti-Black racism demonstrations against police brutality in the George Floyd case. Canada’s peaceful demonstrations raise the importance for Canadians to address systemic inequalities inundating Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities. The COVID-19 environment had already begun to reveal similar risks and fault lines. Read more for our full statement.
2020-2023 Strategic Direction
In 2019, the Foundation mindfully engaged in stakeholder consultation sessions across Canada to gauge the current state of anti-racism issues and opportunities, and to analyze collected insights in order to develop a new strategic direction that will guide the Foundation’s activities in the new 2020-2023 Strategic Plan. The consultation confirmed the need for the Foundation to reset its strategic direction to better respond to the current realities and pressing needs of organizations, public institutions and leaders who are working on anti-racism issues.
The consultation and ensuing Board conversations resulted in revised statements for the Foundation’s vision, mission and values. Three (3) new strategic directions were also identified as focus areas for the 2020-2013 Strategic Plan, including the Foundation’s priorities for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
Click below to read more.
The consultation and ensuing Board conversations resulted in revised statements for the Foundation’s vision, mission and values. Three (3) new strategic directions were also identified as focus areas for the 2020-2013 Strategic Plan, including the Foundation’s priorities for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
Click below to read more.
Race Relations in Canada 2019
Toronto, December 10th.
In the spirit of improving Canadian race relations the CRRF annouces the release of a ground-breaking new survey.
Full report and data tables now available: Race Relations in Canada Survey 2019
In the spirit of improving Canadian race relations the CRRF annouces the release of a ground-breaking new survey.
Full report and data tables now available: Race Relations in Canada Survey 2019
COVID-19 Notice
The Canadian Race Relations Foundation is a federal crown corporation dedicated to the facilitation of the development of sharing and application of knowledge and expertise to contribute to the elimination of racism and all forms of racial discrimination in Canadian society.
We do this by bringing people together and providing educational resources and events for the public. For this reason, the emergence of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic concerns us very deeply and we are also doing our part in slowing the spread of the virus.
We do this by bringing people together and providing educational resources and events for the public. For this reason, the emergence of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic concerns us very deeply and we are also doing our part in slowing the spread of the virus.
Canada 62/150: PJ Lakhanpal
By: Siobhan Cole
Some kids dream of becoming an astronaut. Some dream of becoming rock stars.
Some, like PJ Lakhanpal, dream of becoming a politician. However, when you’ve got cancer knocking on your door, life becomes less about dreaming about the future and more struggling with the day-to-day. Lakhanpal spent about a year fighting Hodgkin lymphoma. It’s a type of cancer that attacks the immune system, specifically the lymphatic system.
“It was awful”, says Lakhanpal. “It was like walking through the ninth circle of hell. I was moody, irritable, and the slightest thing would upset me. I was so weak, physically and mentally.”
However, walk through hell he did. Eventually, Lakhanpal’s doctors were thrilled to deliver to the Brampton teenager the diagnosis he and his family had been waiting for: he was finally in remission.
“It felt like I won the LottoMax”, laughs Lakhanpal, the joy still palpable in his voice. “I was so happy. So, so happy.”
As part of criteria from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he was able to receive one wish. PJ didn’t overthink it. “I procrastinated for a while. I wanted something extraordinary. And so I came up with it on the spot.”
PJ, who was recently granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, chose to be Prime Minister for a day. The Make-A-Wish wish coordinator didn’t even blink, and called the teenager soon after with more good news: pack your bags for Ottawa.
What followed was a whirlwind experience mimicking some of Prime Minister Trudeau’s schedule. There was swearing-in ceremony, getting a security detail, and meeting with other key political figures such as Governor-General David Johnston. When asked what the best part of the whole experience was, Pakhanpal says it’s impossible to choose. “I can’t pick one moment”, he chuckles. “Every moment was equally as good”.
The icing on the cake, of course, was meeting Justin Trudeau himself. “He was a really nice guy,” says Lakhanpal. “It was like talking to a friend”.
So what advice does the one-time Prime Minster have for Canadians? What does he have to say about major issues facing the country, such as multiculturalism? “Embrace it,” says Lakhanpal emphatically. There’s been so much dividing through history. We can unite under common goals and interests. We can unite under the ideals of multiculturalism and democracy”.
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